ATSU Counseling Services on the Arizona Campus, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are encouraging our community to light a candle near a window at 8 PM to show support for suicide prevention, to remember a lost loved one through suicide and for the survivors of suicide in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. "Lighting a candle near a window at 8 PM offers people who cannot participate in a World Suicide Prevention Day event the opportunity to observe the day in a private and personal way," says ATSU Counselor Art Matthews. "I would also encourage ATSU community members whose lives have been personally impacted by suicide, behavioral health conditions, and mental illness stigma, to wear lime green on Tuesday as a sign of support for one another as surviving/thriving family, friends and colleagues. That visibility also acts to build awareness for those who may be considering suicide that their absence will impact a great number of people and there are those of us who care, understand and can offer support." The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day this year is "Stigma: A Major Barrier to Suicide Prevention." Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world, especially among young people. Nearly one million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. Nearly 1,400 college students are lost each your to suicide. Sadly, 80% never sought services offered by their campus counseling center even though those services were at a low or no cost. These staggering figures do not include nonfatal suicide attempts which occur much more frequently than deaths by suicide. A large proportion of people who die by suicide suffer from mental illness. Recent estimates suggest that the disease burden caused by mental illnesses will account for 25% of the total disease burden in the world in the next two decades, making it the most important category of ill-health (more important than cancer or heart diseases.) Yet a significant number of those with mental illnesses who die by suicide do not contact health or social services near the time of their death. In many instances there are insufficient services available to assist those in need at times of crisis. This lack of access to appropriate care is one of the many factors that magnify the stigma associated with mental illness and with suicidal ideation and behaviour. This type of stigma is deeply rooted in most societies. IASP has prepared special Light a Candle near a Window at 8 PM postcards or e-cards in various languages so supporters can send these reminders to friends, colleagues and loved ones. Also, these postcards can be used by bloggers, writers and others so that they can share information about suicide, suicide prevention and World Suicide Prevention Day. Postcards can be downloaded from the IASP Web site at tinyurl/6opnzus. Established in Vienna, in 1960, by the late Professor Erwin Ringel, IASP is the key Non-Government Organization in official relations with the World Health Organization in addressing suicide. IASP is a unique multidisciplinary organization with its membership coming from 50 countries, primarily from the mental health professions, but with additional members from such disciplines as sociology, social work, anthropology, medicine, public health, education, corrections, probation, coroners/medical examiners, pathology and philosophy. IASP – World Suicide Prevention Day iasp.info/wspd/ ### For further information, contact: Art Matthews, MA LPC Counselor-Learning Resources
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 17:15:15 +0000
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